No intelligent unprejudiced Christian, who has examined the testimony of Brethren, could, for a moment, we think, question its source. It is most surely of God by His Holy Spirit. Fruits prove this. Separation from the world, holiness of life, occupation with the truth in service to Christ, and the expectation of His return from heaven, have characterized them. When we say this, we do not mean that they are in themselves better than other Christians; they have to mourn over infirmities, failures, and short-comings, and judge themselves for many things that are unlike Christ; but we speak of what has constituted and characterized their mission and testimony. It has been perfectly distinct and widely apart from every section of Christians throughout the whole of Christendom. Since the days of the apostles, we find no such movement in the history of the church. We have no doubt that the whole thing is of God, however much His chosen instruments may have failed in carrying out His mind. The recovery of long-lost truths, so deeply precious both personally and ecclesiastically, manifestly proves this.
If, then, this be the source and character of the testimony, it becomes a very solemn matter to traduce and oppose its messengers. Is it not fighting against God Himself and depreciating a restored Christianity? The solemn words of the Lord are not inapplicable in such a case-" Verily, I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." But the Brethren have not been satisfied merely to live, enjoy, and teach the truth; they have boldly testified against the prevailing evils of their time. Who has raised so distinct and scriptural a protest against Rationalism, Ritualism, Romanism, infidelity, and the worldliness of the whole professing church? Let the many public lectures which Brethren have given on these subjects, and the pamphlets which they have published, bear witness. " It is written by divine inspiration-' When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.' (Isa. 59:1919So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. (Isaiah 59:19).) Of late years the enemy has been coming in like a flood, and where is there anything in these lands that can be called the lifting up of a standard against him, except it be the intensely spiritual movement, and thoroughly biblical writings, of the Brethren? For, drawing only from the holy scriptures, have they not displayed a banner because of the truth against every great evil that has come in for the past forty years? Are they not the present-day standard bearers of a recovered Christianity?"
But while the elder Brethren are thus engaged in detecting and exposing the inroads of the enemy, and " establishing the souls of the disciples," many of the younger Brethren are happily engaged in writing for the unconverted and for the " sheep and lambs of the flock." They send out from their publishers in London for the first of every month, eleven magazines, embracing various lines of divine truth. Several of them have a circulation of about forty and fifty thousand monthly, which shows how far beyond the limits of Brethren they are read; they find their way everywhere.
Notwithstanding the bad name which has been given to Brethren by the various denominations, and the strong opposition which has been raised against them, they have been marvelously blessed of God in spreading the pure truth of His word far and wide. And our hearts do most unfeignedly praise Him for raising up a testimony for His beloved Son in almost every part of the world where Christianity has been introduced. He is worthy to have a light to shine and a testimony to go forth wherever there are souls to be saved. In the United States, in spite of Dr. Dabney's mistaken efforts to write them down, ninety-one meetings have sprung up of late years, besides Brethren in places where are no meetings. In Canada, there are a hundred and one meetings. In Holland, thirty-nine: in Germany, a hundred and eighty-nine; in France, a hundred and forty-six; in Switzerland, seventy-two; in the United Kingdom, including the Channel Islands, about seven hundred and fifty; besides twenty-two other countries, where the meetings vary from one to thirteen. Depots for the sale of Brethren's books have been opened in most places where the Brethren have become numerous; but large quantities are sent out monthly to private addresses in nearly all parts of Christendom. It may also be added here that, besides the going out of Brethren from this country to distant parts to preach the gospel, the Lord has raised up and qualified many in these different lands to maintain His testimony as to the unity of the church, and to preach the gospel of salvation to lost souls. In Canada and the United States numbers have been brought to know the Lord, and not a few in New Zealand and Australia.